As soon as LSU sophomore defensive back Tre’Davious White stepped on the field for his freshman season in 2013, he made a name for himself.
Playing all 13 games and starting in 11, White was named to the Freshman All-Southeastern Conference team and was tapped as a third-team Freshman All-America selection. He led the Tigers in pass breakups with seven, pulled down two interceptions and finished the season with 55 tackles.
After an impressive freshman season, expectations were high coming into his second year. Once the 2013 season ended, White got to work and began improving his game in preparation for the 2014 season.
“His work ethic sets him apart, we worked out together all summer,” said sophomore linebacker Kendell Beckwith. “He’s my roommate, we always push each other to get better. We worked hard this summer and got after it.”
Looking at his statistics through six games, it’s clear this work has paid off. White, tied for the third-most solo tackles of any defensive back on the LSU squad with nine, has 14 total tackles, one interception and three pass breakups. On top of his defensive contributions, White has returned 13 punts for 114 yards, averaging 8.8 yards per return.
Even though he has played a solid season statistically, White said he isn’t content with his performance and focuses on improving every practice.
“Coming into the season, it was my second year, and I felt like I had to take a more vocal role and just try to transition my game to become a more complete player, and I feel like I worked on those things and they’re coming along ok,” White said. “There’s still some things that I need to work on, and I feel like going forward I’ll continue to work on those things.”
At a university known for producing top NFL defensive backs, the transition from the high school game to the college game can be a whirlwind. Learning new plays, defending top SEC wide receivers and competing with talented players for a starting role are all situations a new player at LSU is thrown into.
Thanks to junior safety Jalen Mills, senior safety Ronald Martin and junior cornerback Jalen Collins, the transition was made less intimidating for White.
“When I came in, they were really looking forward to me playing. They told me the summer that I came in that they expected big things from me, and ever since then, I look up to those guys,” White said. “They’ve taught me a lot about playing defensive back. I feel like going forward, those are some guys that I continue to look up to and lean on and talk to about anything.”
Collins, who has been one of White’s biggest mentors at LSU, said he has seen White mature and grow from the beginning of his freshman season to today.
“He’s just growing up,” Collins said. “He knows what he has to do. He takes some time out to do extra work, improves his flexibility and watches extra film. He is just getting into what he has to do and growing up.”
The support net the veteran defensive players have for the younger Tigers brings the unit together and adjusts them to life at LSU. They’re a closely knit group that enjoys doing things together off the field and outside the locker room.
From playing video games to grabbing a bite to eat together, the brotherhood in the backfield is one thing White said he loves.
“We always try to do things outside of football, just get out and refresh our minds,” White said. “We play laser tag, go out to movies, go out to eat, we just try to get out and get our minds off of football for a little while.”
Every player has their own unique way of getting ready for a big contest. Some get their adrenaline going with cheers, loud music or other traditions.
White, however, gets ready for big games in a different way.
“I try to stay a little light. I like to listen to a little slow music,” White said. “I listen to some New Edition before every game. I just try to say cool and try to calm myself down.”
If White continues his defensive production at the same rate, he will put up even better numbers than during his inaugural season with the Tigers.
Although the season hasn’t progressed exactly how the LSU planned, White said he and the defense won’t give up or settle anything less than greatness.
“None of the guys in the locker room came here to get moral victories. I didn’t come here for that,” White said. “You come here to win and fulfil the tradition that was set here before you.”
You can reach Michael Haarala on Twitter @haarala_TDR.